Get the kids outdoors with this cool DIY dinosaur garden. It's like a fairy garden, but with sharp teeth and lava rocks. A trip to the hardware store and an afternoon of work is all it takes to create a prehistoric backyard play area that little ones are sure to love.
Jennifer perkins
Tools and materials:
Jennifer perkins
Lay the pond liner on top of the plywood. Trace the bottom of the lining, not the top. You want the rim of the container to be larger than the hole so the planter will be recessed into the plywood table.
Jennifer perkins
Use a drill to make a starter hole for the puzzle. Once you have a starter hole, use the saw to cut out the circle from the pond liner. Sanding and trimming may be required to ensure proper fit. Give some allowance in the circumference of the fake grass.
Jennifer perkins
When the hole is the correct size, lay out the Eco-Rug or artificial turf. Cut it slightly larger than the size of the plywood so you can fold it over and secure it from the bottom.
Jennifer perkins
Wrap the sides of the wood with the grass and secure it with a staple gun. The grass will make the table edges softer for little knees that might bump into things and give the illusion of lush green grass for all the herbivorous dinosaurs.
Jennifer perkins
When the grass is tight and in place, turn the plywood over and cut an asterisk pattern in the grass in the center of the liner hole. Bend the grass to the bottom of the plywood and staple it in place. Trim off any excess bits of grass so the hole is open and ready for lining.
Jennifer perkins
Place the table on top of cinder blocks to lift it off the ground and make it small. Use a strong adhesive to attach the plywood to the blocks.
Jennifer perkins
Check the garden center for materials that children can play with. Create a scene with various textures and different types of hardy plants like tall grasses and irises. The dinosaur game table should be a sensory experience for children.
Jennifer perkins
Jennifer perkins
Decorative stones, such as lava rocks, are great for transporting toy trucks. Kids can even paint their own rocks to add. The extra blank space in the prehistoric playland is intentionally left empty so that the children have an extra space to play. Leave shells, geodes, pine cones and more as an invitation to play.
Jennifer perkins
Mulch, dirt, and children's play sand are also great additions. Don't expect dinosaur village to stay Pinterest perfect for long, this is for the kids, after all. Keep additional materials available to refill as needed.
The most important step is to add the dinosaurs! Toy dinosaurs that can withstand the weather are the perfect addition. Are your kids more into safaris or rainforests? Just take out different animals that day.
